FILIPINO pole vault ace Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is set to open his campaign at the 2025 World Athletics Championships on Saturday (Sept.13) in Tokyo, Japan, carrying with him the momentum of a podium finish earlier this week.
Obiena bagged the bronze medal at the World Athletics Continental Tour in China on September 8 after clearing 5.65 meters. China’s Tao Zhong captured gold on countback with a 5.75-meter clearance, while American Cole Walsh settled for silver with the same height.
The result provides a timely boost for Obiena as he heads into the global meet, where he will compete in Group B alongside world No. 1 Armand Duplantis of Sweden.
The qualification round is scheduled for Saturday evening’s session at around 6:00 p.m. local time. (5 PM in PH)
Obiena, who soared to a historic 6.00 meters in the 2023 edition to set both the Asian and Philippine records, aims to reprise his record-breaking form in Tokyo. The World Athletics Championships run from September 13 to 21.
After Tokyo, Obiena will return home to headline the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge from September 20 to 21 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.
The event will feature top international vaulters, including Ersu Sasma (Turkey), Menno Vloon (Netherlands), Thibaut Collet (France), Ben Broeders (Belgium), Austin Miller and Matt Ludwig (USA), Piotr Lisek (Poland), and Oleg Zernikel (Germany).
